Hearty Plate

Imagine yourself being lulled to sleep at 3:00 in the afternoon and you can’t fight back your eyes from getting heavy; betraying you from pretending to be working hard during office or class hours, LOL.

But then that is my daily dilemma. Though I try to combat it with coffee, the good ol’ remedy known to every mankind. I got bored drinking my 3-in-1 at our plain Jane pantry in the office. Desiring to chill in a place with a good ambience for a total R&R experience even for just a minute break.

Imagine how giddy I got when I heard about the enticing news that there will be a new resident café just within the building where our office is located.

Happy Plate Café, just the sound of the name makes my tummy grumble and crave for some coffee. We went there at their soft opening for some latte and snack.

Upon taking a peek at their shop, my smile were like from ear to ear because of what I saw. They had me at their chic and minimalist interior design. White walls with wood furnitures? Yup, I’m a sucker for that. Added with banana leaf painting at one side of the wall which only disappointed me a little since it was covered with the aircon. I was thinking of seeing more of the design.

Their kitchen board was adorned with various cute knick knacks and wall decors with sayings.

Their menu is chalk-written in their blue wooden board. While there is a blank board with wood pegs. I am assuming it will be for some picture posts or calligraphy ones because the owner is into it.

We ordered Matcha Latte (70 Pesos) with cute heart art and Cappuccino (85 Pesos) matched with Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Caprese (both 85 Pesos). Of course, always have a room for dessert, Carrot Cupcake (50 Pesos) is very much welcome in the food gang.

Their sandwiches are heaven on my mouth with its gooey cheese. Prices of the food were cheap too compared to other cafes and reasonable for the taste and ambience.

Now that Hearty Plate Café is just some floor below our office, there will be no sleepy afternooon anymore for me!

Islander

The daybreak approached and the sun rises to acknowledge the new day. I welcomed it walking in the white sandy shore of Puerto Galera clad in black and white ensemble.

It was beach perfect because of the one piece and lacy shorts but the added details like the chic cover up and turban was inspired by the Desert scene in Sex and City 3 Movie I watched. I was amazed on how Carrie and her squad rocked their complicated outfit in style even in the middle of the desert. I mean they don’t need to since simpler clothes are more practical to wear there but being who they are they still made it their runway.

But unlike them, I don’t need any elaborate pieces to compete with my beautiful nature background as it just enhances the neutral color of my outfit. Then some metallic tattoos to add sparkle to compensate for the accessories you can choose to avoid when water is just around the corner, you know what I mean, right?

I like how I looked classy and sexy in my own way without having to stick myself to wear the usual slinky two piece swimsuits when you are in the beach. It’s just how you carry yourself and believe that you look gorgeous anyways, darlings! :*

Wanderlust

There’s no time in my life (I know you do too.) that I don’t long to spend my day just lounging or doing something extraordinary somewhere faraway. But that’s just not possible, realistic even given the responsibilities we have back at our own homes and works.

Yet whenever there’s the opportunity to travel whether it would be beach or a cold destination, modern or back in time type of tours I would grab it. There’s no way I would pass the chance to relax and enjoy just because…

1. Travelling is good for health, mind you! I believe so, because it lets your body recharge from all the toxics and stress you accumulated. It frees your mind and lets your creative juices flow again. You’ll go back to your routine with a different mindset and more energy that will help improve your work.

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       2. As they say, “All Work and No Play, Makes Jack a Dull Boy.” Going on a trip with people you enjoy the company or choosing to have an escapade alone will do you great. You can bond and rekindle relationships especially with those you haven’t seen for a while. But the best thing is you rediscover yourself and will come out refreshed and bolder.

3.       3. You will be able to overcome your fears as you have to deal with it if you want to experience that scary ride, sports, food, etc. you’ve been dying to try. All that adventures that awaits you in every travel is worth of your feat. The trip becomes more special with the fun and daring remembrance you had. Try new things once in a while because life will never run out of it. That’s for sure.

1.      4  It will make you passionate, smarter, and inspired as you gain experience, learning and appreciation with everything you will see, hear, and feel contrary from your workaday life. Talking to the locals also lets you know the story of the place and the everyday life of its people and somehow makes you feel like you are one of them.

5.   This one in the list is definitely not the last as for sure through my continuous wandering I will have more points to ponder for myself but this one is on my top priority, lol. With the boom of social media sites,Instagram for example as it is my favourite where you have to post your whereabouts and ganapganap (happenings) in life or else it means it did not exist. Taking creative shots of you posing with the landmarks and tourist spots you’ve been to as your background, showing off your hard-earned body, OOTD you planned meticulously, or your food just to make someone drool and hungry, scenic photographs, and other crazy beautiful ideas you have in mind that will make your feed tap-worthy. But more than making others green with envy, it is the memory you take with you that you can go back to anytime even you if you become forgetful on your old age. You can also show it to your grandchildren and you might be their travel-inspo goals too! ;)

 

Painter's Palette

If you’ve been following me on my Instagram account, @valenciajoyces (if not could you please follow me, will ya?J ) you can say that I’ve changed my feed into washed out compared to my more vibrant feed before.

So how do you find it? Did you like it? But I’m pretty sure it would change again into other theme depending on my mood, haha! I might go back again to being colourful or perhaps black and white, no one can guess it. Before I even knew it I might be uploading pictures non-stop that might surprise me too and just continue it until I formed another rows of harmonious feed.

                But it took me more effort and time actually to edit my pictures since I still want to have vibrant photos in my blog though. Apparently, I still have that rainbow soul that I can’t bring to leave somewhere.

Venice Piazza

Listed in my Bucket List is to travel and explore the world. So while I am still trying to work my ass off to earn and spend big time I would take each opportunity to at least experience even a bit of it less money involved. Can I do that here in the Philippines? Oh, yes! But how is that possible?

     One country that makes it to my top dream destinations is Italy. Without needing a passport, Visa, and a plane ticket I can have a feel of Venice’s famous Garand Canal. Thanks to Mckinley Hill, Taguig’s own version for visitor’s recreation.

                    The place clearly wants to take you to Venice with their almost true to believe architectural and luxurious interior and exterior design. You can even feed birds at the mock plaza while angelic voices serenades you with Italian opera songs. The music they bring fills the whole place and might even give you goose bumps. While the colorful palette painted on the structures are really pleasing to the eyes.

                 Venice would not be Venice if not for its historical Grand Canal so the duplication of it is the highlight of the Mall.

People flock there not just to enjoy the food offered by some restaurants (others are Italian-themed also with their own impressive adornments.) there but of course to take a glimpse of the impressive imitation and take a picture with it as a background. Others even fool others that they have really gone to Venice, haha!

                The only thing that makes the spot incomplete is the Gondola ride which they already have but will be operational not until December. If not for the lack of it then it will be close to perfect as if you really made a touchdown to Italy. The mall is still new but a lot are already planned to further improve it for it so we better watch out! Shopaholics will love it also as many stores are lined up to open there.

 

 

                  As for my outfit, well I just want to somehow pattern it to the royal clothes worn then.  With my see-through sleeves with gold intricate embroidery top and lacy shorts I could blend well with the view. My peg was the men’s ensembles sans the tights and puffs. Karir, no? Haha!

                Hope you enjoy my adventure, ciao!